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ToxFAQs™ for 1,2-Dichloroethene

This fact sheet answers the most frequently asked health questions about 1,2-dichloroethene. For more information, you may call the ATSDR Information Center at 1-888-422-8737. This fact sheet is one in a series of summaries about hazardous substances and their health effects. This information is important because this substance may harm you. The effects of exposure to any hazardous substance depend on the dose, the duration, how you are exposed, personal traits and habits, and whether other chemicals are present.

Highlights

Exposure to 1,2-dichloroethene occurs mainly in workplaces where it is made or used. Breathing high levels of 1,2-dichloroethene can make you feel nauseous, drowsy, and tired. cis-1,2-Dichloroethene has been found in at least 146 of the 1,430 National Priorities List sites identified by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). trans-1,2-Dichloroethene was found in at least 563 NPL sites. 1,2-Dichloroethene was found at 336 sites, but the isomer (cis- or trans-) was not specified.

What is 1,2-dichloroethene?

1,2-Dichloroethene, also called 1,2-dichloroethylene,
is a highly flammable, colorless liquid with a sharp, harsh
odor. It is used to produce solvents and in chemical mixtures.
You can smell very small amounts of 1,2-dichloroethene in
air (about 17 parts of 1,2-dichloroethene per million parts
of air [17 ppm]).

There are two forms of 1,2-dichloroethene;
one is called cis-1,2-dichloroethene and the other
is called trans-1,2-di-chloroethene. Sometimes both
forms are present as a mixture.

How can 1,2-dichloroethene affect my health?

Breathing high levels of 1,2-dichloroethene
can make you feel nauseous, drowsy, and tired; breathing very
high levels can kill you.

When animals breathed high levels of
trans-1,2-dichloroethene for short or longer periods
of time, their livers and lungs were damaged and the effects
were more severe with longer exposure times. Animals that
breathed very high levels of trans-1,2-dichloroethene
had damaged hearts.

Animals that ingested extremely high
doses of cis- or trans-1,2-dichloroethene died.

Lower doses of cis-1,2-dichloroethene
caused effects on the blood, such as decreased numbers of
red blood cells, and also effects on the liver.

The long-term (365 days or longer) human
health effects after exposure to low concentrations of 1,2-dichloroethene
aren't known. One animal study suggested that an exposed fetus
may not grow as quickly as one that hasn't been exposed.

Exposure to 1,2-dichloroethene hasn't
been shown to affect fertility in people or animals.

How likely is 1,2-dichloroethene to cause cancer?

Is there a medical test to show whether I've been exposed to 1,2-dichloroethene?

Tests are available to measure concentrations
of the breakdown products of 1,2-dichloroethene in blood,
urine, and tissues. However, these tests aren't used routinely
to determine whether a person has been exposed to this compound.
This is because after you are exposed to 1,2-dichloroethene,
the breakdown products in your body that are detected with
these tests may be the same as those that come from exposure
to other chemicals. These tests aren't available in most doctors'
offices, but can be done at special laboratories that have
the right equipment.

Has the federal government made recommendations to protect human health?

The EPA has set the maximum allowable level of cis-1,2-
dichloroethene in drinking water at 0.07 milligrams per liter of
water (0.07 mg/L) and trans-1,2-dichloroethene at 0.1 mg/L.

The EPA requires that any spills or accidental release of
1,000 pounds or more of 1,2-dichloroethene must be reported
to the EPA.

The Occupational Health Safety and Health Administration
(OSHA) has set the maximum allowable amount of
1,2-dichloroethene in workroom air during an 8-hour workday
in a 40-hour workweek at 200 parts of 1,2-dichloroethene per
million parts of air (200 ppm).

ATSDR can also tell you the location of occupational and environmental health clinics. These clinics specialize in
recognizing, evaluating, and treating illnesses resulting from exposure to hazardous substances.

Information line and technical assistance:
Phone: 888-422-8737

To order toxicological profiles, contact:
National Technical Information Service
5285 Port Royal Road
Springfield, VA 22161
Phone: 800-553-6847 or 703-605-6000

Disclaimer
Some PDF files may be electronic conversions from paper copy or other electronic ASCII text files. This conversion may have resulted in character translation or format errors. Users are referred to the original paper copy of the toxicological profile for the official text, figures, and tables. Original paper copies can be obtained via the directions on the toxicological profile home page, which also contains other important information about the profiles.

The information contained here was correct at the time of publication. Please check with the appropriate agency for any changes to the regulations or guidelines cited.